Man Fleeing Cops Begs for Their Help After Jumping Into Gator-Filled Lake

Publish date: 2024-07-06

A man who reportedly fled from police and jumped into a lake in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Saturday needed to be rescued after he struggled to stay above the water.

When officers tried to serve a warrant to Daekwon Pearce, 27, he allegedly ran from officers and was later found calling for help after he wasn't able to swim across Greenfield Lake, which is known to be home to alligators.

Officers saved him and charged him with unlawful resist, delay, and obstruct of an officer according to the Wilmington Police Department. He was also served with a warrant for communicating threats, per a press release published on the Wilmington Police Department's Facebook page.

Resist, Delay, Obstruct

According to FindLaw, a legal information website, it is prohibited to unlawfully resist, delay or obstruct an officer who is attempting to carry out their duties in North Carolina.

"Violation of this statute is a Class 2 misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 30 days of community punishment (if there are no prior convictions)," the organization's article noted.

Alligators in North Carolina

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission reported that male alligators in the state may grow up to 15 feet, while female alligators grow to less than nine feet.

"Adult alligators are usually solitary, but often congregate together, especially in the breeding season," the agency reported.

Mating takes place from May through June. After the season is complete, the female alligator builds a nest near water.

Brandon Shope, a press information officer with the Wilmington Police Department, confirmed to Newsweek that alligators are found in Greenfield Lake.

The Incident

The press release stated that officers were dispatched to serve a warrant to Pearce, but he fled on foot from the officers.

"He was located shortly after running near Greenfield Lake and went into the thick brush close to the bank of the lake," officials said.

A helicopter was called in to help with the search.

"Pearce then reappeared and attempted to swim across the lake but was not able to make it," the release continued. "As officers were preparing to enter the lake, the suspect began to drown and called for help."

The helicopter got closer to the lake and an official threw a life vest to Pearce.

"One of the officers jumped in the lake and safely brought him back to the shore," the release stated.

Shope said that Pearce was cleared for transport to the jail after he was treated at a nearby hospital and the officer is doing well.

Other Recent Arrests

A Florida man reportedly attempted to escape from police by driving away on a John Deere ride-on lawnmower. Officers caught up to him and used a stun gun to capture him.

Three women who were caught in a viral video throwing items at restaurant employees after they were charged extra for sauce were arrested in New York.

One woman was accused of keeping her mother's body in a freezer to continue collecting disability checks.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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